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We discovered a new dive bar this weekend, which, obviously has good taste in music (as well as overall lighting tonality). If you find yourself in the Santa Monica area, and are into great music and dive bars, check out The Gaslite off Wilshire Blvd. Drink responsibly, kids.

I’d just like to say thank you to California State University, Long Beach’s KJazz (88.1 FM) for instilling calming and soothing easy listening jazz on my morning commutes into work. It’s because of this prominent station, and its perfectly timed playing of Bewitched by Paul Desmond, that I didn’t slam on my horn and offer screams of rage to the choch in the white SUV that swerved in front of me, forcing me to slam on my brakes and almost caused a much, unneeded accident. Serenity remained, and for that, I have KJazz to thank. (Photo above lifted from the internet.)

We went in looking for a receiver, and came out with a bootleg copy of The Beatles Christmas Album. It was, in fact, on sale, so there’s that, but the Sherwood S-7100A receiver had been sold earlier in the day. The search continues for the perfect, vintage receiver.

When spending three nights within the confines of a rented studio apartment on wheels, a proper entertainment set-up isn’t just key, it’s borderline survival basics. The PG clan (consisting solely of my wife and me) each hand-picked 10 albums for our excursion… of which we’re down to about 12 after just one half day. But wait! Grady’s Record Refuge is just a quick Uber / Lyft ride away, so after the Tim Hardins and the Les Baxters are laid to rest, unknown gems from Ventura’s finest will get their spinning debut… inside a studio apartment on wheels.

Santa Ana kicked some solid ass and brought out some heavy, legendary hitters. Featured here is (insane / genius / crazy person) Jello Biafra with his Guantanamo School of Medicine. For only $20, we witnessed not only the best live band of our generation (Rocket from the Crypt), but also a few Dead Kennedys classics. I wasn’t expecting, or remotely prepared for the latter. Good day, indeed.

This one’s for my pop. Much respect and love to the man who brought me into this world, and who just as easily could have taken me out… and with good reason. Enjoy your spins, Big Guy, and thanks for the constant years of patience and understanding. I know it wasn’t easy. Happy Father’s Day!

Fat Wreck Chords’ subsidiary, Honest Don’s Records, was a heavy-spun favorite back in my early college days. Diesel Boy’s Strap on Seven Inch (a 7″, naturally) was my first introduction to the snotty Santa Rosa band, and I’ve been (nostalgically) hooked ever since. Venus Envy is the band’s second studio album, and just arrived on my doorstep. If you know a Don, keep him honest. If you don’t, have your way over here.

Dear, these precious “United” States. This is why we can’t have nice things. I’m disappointed in you, California, and am ashamed to call myself a born Californian. What good is history when derived from dishonest means? As good as it ever has been, I suppose. Is Canada hiring?

(HOW FAT IS SHE?!) (No rhyme here) She’s fat enough to indulge in this first of seven, 7″ singles that house The Pharcyde Singles: Collection, circa: 2012. Each on individually colored vinyl, the Ya Mama 7″ is released on bro-shot purple vinyl, for those of you into colored extremes. 22 burritos, anyone?

The below list is, we feel, adequate camping music for the inner, nature-minded ruffian in all of us. A few old standbys, a few personal favs, but all helping to create a calming soundtrack for our recent, peacock-screaming nature excursion. I’d be interested to hear what others would consider like-minded, camping-acceptable albums.

When camping, I find a good book helps to set the calming, relaxing, slow-paced vibe of living like a pampered homeless person. I just cracked open NOFX’s The Hepatitis Bathtub and Other Stories, and it’s absolutely, without question, batshit crazy… in the best, possible sense of the term. Anyway, no records this round. Just ZZ Top’s first album over the iPod, good company, and random-ass NOFX stories. Life is good.

I saw Sublime’s self-titled album at Barnes & Noble recently and I got to thinking, why the hell don’t I own all of their albums yet? I mean, there are only three of them, and I already own their second offering, 1994’s Robbin’ the Hood (featured here). They seem to reissue all three of these with some kind of color variant every few years or so. I think I’m going to jump on the next round, or at least strongly consider it. Sublime was on heavy rotation during my pizza delivery days which was, unfortunately, after frontman Bradley Nowell had passed. A buddy of mine swears we saw them back in 1995 at a Warped Tour, but I think he’s nuts as I would certainly have remembered seeing them. Anyway, as a general rule of thumb, if a band only releases three albums, and you already own one of them, it’s damn time to round out their discography.

Always looking out for my fellow record obsessed, this photo was sent to a Tull-lover, with the simple text of, “Have? Need?” This is not a rare exchange that goes out among our local collecting comrades, and in this case, the $3 needed not be spent. I was however strictly instructed to acquire 1974’s War Child, but in lieu of time, I had to pass it up. (Raises glass), here’s to those to act before asking. Happy Sunday, kids!

One of the two hip hop acquisitions from Saturday’s Wax fair, this sealed Young MC single from 1988: I Let ’em Know backed with My Name is Young. This was a no-brainer as far as historical, LA-based labels are concerned. I’ve not seen many of the standard Delicious sleeves (featured here), instead generally seeing a plain black or white sleeve. Defunct label design aside, tonight I’m going to blast some Young MC while pretending I’m 9 years old again… should make for an interesting evening for my neighbors.

Acquiring an arbitrary album sleeve, sans record, only hours before receiving a record, sans sleeve, makes the whole thing (record collecting medium) worth the inevitable journey. In no way was this planned, but forever moving forward, they will be intertwined. Nautiluss, meet WAX.